The Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VI

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VI Aubrey Medina 10/8/12 1A

2. Characters • Gilgamesh. The king • Ishtar: Desperately wants to marry Gilgamesh, promises him riches if she marries him. • Tammuz, Shepherd, Ishullanu: Princess Ishtar’s previous lovers who were turned into various animals by Ishtar • Anuand Anrum: Princess Ishtar’s parents who allowed Ishtar to use the Bull of Heaven • Enkidu: Great friend of Gilgamesh who helped kill the Bull of Heaven

3. Gilgamesh • Fair • Refused to marry Ishtar because he has nothing to give to her in return • “What would I have to give you if I married you!” • Relevant • Presents a universal quality that we usually give something in return of something given to us

4. Gilgamesh • Smart • He knew that Ishtar would probably treat him the same way she treated the other men • “And now me! It is me you love, and you will ordain for me as for them” • Lifelike • We can believe a male character who is strong enough to defend himself • Uses good examples supporting his argument that Ishtar would probably treat him like her other previous lovers • Reacts smartly and reasonably

5. Gilgamesh • Strong • “Gilgamesh, like an expert butcher, boldly and surely approached the Bull of Heaven.” • “Between the nape, the horns, and... he thrust his sword.” • Dramatic Method

6. Gilgamesh Disrespectful Brave yet • Confronts Ishtar (a princess) and tells her upfront how cruel she is • Lists all of Ishtar’s lovers and what she did to them • “See here now, I will recite the list of your lovers.” • Be strong for himself and decline Ishtar even though she is a Princess • Brave enough to be truthful to Ishtar about what she is

7. Princess Ishtar • Shallow (Dramatic Method) • Evil (Dramatic Method) • Believable • One sided • Archetypical

8. Tammuz • Simple • Ishtar’s first lover • Princess Ishtar turned him into a broken winged bird

9. Shepherd • Simple • Previous lover • A baker and slaughterer • Continually slaughtered lambs and presented bread for Ishtar • Ishtar turned him into a wolf

10. Ishullanu • Simple • Previous lover • Ishtar’s father’s date gardener • Continually brought Ishtar dates. • Was turned into a dwarf by Ishtar

11. Anu and Anrum • Ishtar’s father and mother. • Anu allows Ishtar to use the Bull of Heaven • Eventually gives Ishtar the Bull of Heaven like archetypical parents • Pushover parent who give their spoiled child what they want

12. Enkidu • Enkidu and Gilgamesh attacks the bull together and cut out the Bull’s heart. • Brave (Dramatic Method) • Good friend • strong • Smart • Disrespectful

13. Princess Ishtar continued • Evil • wants to destroy Gilgamesh just because of his refusal of marriage • Believable and one sided • we know of characters who take a lot of what they get for granted, and become infuriated when they don’t get one thing they wanted. • Portrays an evil character throughout the tablet • Archetypical • The spoiled girl who gets upset if she isn’t given what she wants, takes advantage of men, has the pushover parents, disrespects parents • Shallow • Became interested in Gilgamesh when he cleaned up his appearance

14. Enkidu continued. • Disrespectful • “he wrenched off the Bull's hindquarter and flung it in her face” • Good Friend • “Jumped out” to help his friend when he didn’t need to. He chose to. • Gave all the glory of killing the Bull to Gilgamesh by announcing it to the men of Unuk and did not mention himself. • ‘Gilgamesh is the bravest of the men, the boldest of the males!’ • Smart • Made a plan of using both his and Gilgamesh’s strength together to defeat the bull • “I will rip out...I and you, we must share (?)I shall grasp the Bull…I will fill my hands (?) ..” • Brave and Strong • “Enkidu jumped out and seized the Bull of Heaven by its horns”